Streicher, homeless advocate, memorial Sunday in Nevada City

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An Easter Day festivity will serve as a memorial for Thomas Streicher, a Nevada City homeless advocate who was killed a week ago in a winter traffic accident along Interstate 80 in Wyoming.

As the founder of Divine Spark, Streicher advocated and fed homeless peoplein addition to making quarterly trips to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, one of the poorest such communities in the country.

It was on his return from his 42nd trip to deliver goods and food to that reservation that Streicher encountered a winter storm in Wyoming and lost control of his vehicle.

Sunday’s meal and memorial is scheduled to begin at noon and continue on until 4 p.m. at the Nevada City Veteran’s Memorial Building, located at 415 North Pine St.

His family, including his daughters, are expected to be on hand Sunday.

Since The Union published news of Streicher’s passing Monday, supporters, volunteers and associates have called to share their shock, remorse and remembrances of the departed community advocate.

“Although he tangled with some people over the venue of feeding the homeless, most of us found him to be the real deal,” wrote Deanna Allen, who worked in the same building as Streicher.

“He was idealistic and genuine. Kind and funny,” she said.

“All of us in our office building will miss him, his energy, his caring for other people, his packing up his van to drive to Pine Ridge. It’s heartbreaking to think of him gone.”